The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-01

gates, which are Of exceptional size. Fortu-
nately Engineer Peary has invented rolling
gate, combining strength with hghtness as well
as facility in opening and shutting The lower
part of the gate consists of a water tight com
partment. in which shifting water ballast acts
to aid both in raising and lowering the gate,
while the moving force employed is hydraulic
The gate moves on rails above the floor of the
lock. This admirable invention has simplifed
the construction of this enterprise
The character of the Nicaragua ship-cana
can be better understood il we consider II as
represented by three divisions-the first or
eastern the middle and the western The first
begins at Greytown, on the Caribbean sea. at
the mouth of the San Juan river. and extends
to the valley of the Arroyo de las Cascades,
distance of 1913 miles. This part, consisting
entirely or excavations, but having lagoons
the line which viii much reduce the labor and
expense, together with the adjoining part of tho
middle division. is the portion which required
the especial attention of Mr.. Menocal in making
his final report.
AT Rio Lajas we reach the western division of
the Nicaragua canal, which extends 1927 miles
from the western shore of the lake to Brito. on
the Pacific. Ships from the Atlantic here grad
ually descend by four locks. and arrive in snug
haven The depths of these locks will be re
spectively 264 feet 20 feet and % Z feet. and
for the last a variable lift Of 24.2 to So Is
feet, in order to meet the state of the tide,
which ON the Pacific at this point has a mean
rise and fall of s. 9S feet. Lock No. 4 will rest
on solid rock. but the remaining three locks will
be cut through strata of clay, gravel and COM
pact sand. presenting no special difficulties. A
portion of the line. The larger the Rio
Grande. viii be detected into another channel.
while it is proposed to carry the others under
the canal At the lower part of the canal
bitches are intended to carry of the surface
drainage.
The entrance of the western division viii be
tunnel shaped. widening at the mouth. in order
to increase the capacity Of the port. And this
leads to the important question of how provision
the entrances to the canal In the days when
Commodore Hollins peppered the tiled roofs and
waving palms at Greytown, that port was sufh-
GENTLY deep for the navies of the world. But
the silt from the San Juan has reduced the max
imum depth to twenty-one feet within the bar.
1t IS proposed to divert the San Juan into
other channel near Greytown and to carry out a
jetty something over mile on the east side OF
the port and anchorage, which must tend TO
deepen the port as well as to serve break
water. a certain amount of preliminary dredg
ing viii necessarily be required. AS the tide
ranges only about eighteen inches at Greytown
no unusual difficulties exist at this end of the
canal At Brito. at the western terminus, quite
different formation exists. Instead of being
Low alluvia1 coast the shores bold and
rocky headland on the east side affords partial
protection. 1t is proposed to build jetties
either side of the little bay, which will afford a
snug, commodious haven. large enough for
many ships to lie. there protected from the
storms The canal is itself a harbor up to the
lower lock.
Such, in brief, is the proposed canal Of Mica
ragua.
can be completed in six years. allowing one year
for what the French cali the installation or get
ting matters into shape end good order for
reason for doubling that under proper manage
ment the canal may be completed in seven
years at the furthest Owing to the ample sup
ply of water power the route be lighted
with electricity at moderate cost. which is not
an unimportant element in computing the time
required for construction The es timates for
probable cost of the canal at $50, 1872 lar, inclu
sive of possible contingencies. The latest sur
veys of Mr.. Menocal. instead of adding to this
amount, have modified the plan of the eastern
division to such degree as to reduce the for
mer estimates s16.921 $50. After the most care
full surveys, taking into consideration recent
improvements in engineering. cost of plant,
cost of railway and in fact every detail, these
last estimates therefore assume the cost of con-
structing the Nicaragua Canal at $4s, 500 167, in
tingencies 1t is hardly likely that under
proper management. anything can occur to carry
the expense much beyond these figures.